Tropical Storm Idalia has hit western Cuba and is expected to become a major hurricane as it moves towards Florida’s Gulf Coast. Officials have ordered evacuations and urged residents to prepare for the incoming hurricane, which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday morning. Idalia currently has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and is located about 80 miles off the western tip of Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm’s intensity and northward path have put around 14 million Floridians under hurricane and tropical storm warnings. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has advised residents to prepare for potentially dangerous conditions and has spoken with President Joe Biden and the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about the situation.
In Cuba, coastal towns have been evacuating and homes and fishing boats have been secured as the storm made landfall on the island nation. The small fishing village of Guanimar, located south of Havana, has experienced significant flooding. Buses have transported women and children to higher ground, while heavy winds have caused damage to infrastructure.
Further west, the tobacco-rich province of Pinar del Rio has been heavily affected by intense winds. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from this province and neighboring Artemisa province. In Havana, heavy rain has begun to fall.
Idalia is forecasted to reach Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale when it makes landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area. Despite living west of the expected landfall, fishing boat operator Shannon Hartsfield has taken precautions by moving his boats to high ground. Some jurisdictions, including Manatee County, have issued mandatory evacuation orders.
The storm is anticipated to bring torrential rains and strong winds to Florida’s Gulf Coast, southeastern Georgia, and eastern portions of North and South Carolina. Flooding and storm surges are expected in these areas. School classes have been canceled, and Tampa International Airport will suspend operations. Beachfront communities, like Bradenton, have opened sandbag stations and urged residents to stay prepared.
Florida Governor DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 46 counties and mobilized 5,500 members of the National Guard. The state is ready to distribute 3 million gallons of drinking water and 1.5 million meals to those in need. Utility firm Duke Energy is also preparing to respond to potential power outages.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Franklin, a Category 3 hurricane, is moving in the Atlantic and is expected to turn northeast. It poses a threat to Bermuda and the US East Coast.
Reporting by Brendan O’Brien, Rich McKay, and Dave Sherwood; Writing by Brendan O’Brien and Steve Gorman; Editing by Conor Humphries, Nick Zieminski, and Marguerita Choy.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
